Machine for beveling the edges of electrotype or stereotype printing-plates.



N0. 785,349. P ATENTED MAR. 21, 1905. P. W. GANN. MACHINE FOR BBVELING THE EDGES 0P BLEGTROTYPB OR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION PILEDDEO. so, 1903 2 SHEETS-8HEET 1.

fi l 2L5 f 7L No. 785,349. PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905.

F. W. GANN. MACHINE FOR BBVELING THE EDGES 0F ELEGTROTYPB OR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

\ APPLICATION FILED DBO. so, 1903.

2 SHEETS-EHBET 2.

BY w ATTORNEYJ.

J: %TIVE8SE8: mwirg m m $114712,

5o invention.

NITED STATES Patented March 21, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR BEVELING THE EDGES OF ELECTROTYPE 0R STEREOTYPE PRINTING-PLATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,349, dated March 21, 1905.

Application filed December 30, 1903. Serial No. 187.116.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK WOODWARD OANN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Beveling the Edges of Electrotype or Stereotype Printing-Plates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a p art thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The subject of this invention is a machine for beveling the edges of electrotype or stereotype printing-plates, especially plates of seg mental transverse contour adapted for use in connection with the printing-cylinders of a cylinder printing-press, and has for its more prominent objects convenience and facility for adjusting the plates for ap lication to the cutters, ca acity for accurate y beveling the plates on a 1 four sides, notwithstanding the fact that the plates may be in the form of curved segments, and also capacity for varying the pitch of the bevel formation of the edges.

With the above and other purposes in view the novel machine comprises a peculiarly-conditioned saddle or clamp by which a segmental plate may be readily and rigidly secured in a manner to present either one of its straight transverse or curved longitudinal edges to a suitable cutter for acquiring the proper bevel, the saddle being capable of quickly permitting said plate to be detached and clamped in a reversed position, so that the corresponding opposite edge can be similarly operated upon, novel means being provided whereby the clamped plate in any of its several adjustments can be fed with positiveness and uniformity to an appropriate beveling device to attain the desired bevel.

There are other important features connected with the invention, which in addition to those alluded to are clearly set forth in the subsequent detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a beveling-machine embodying my Fig. 2 is an end elevation of said machine looking in the direction of the arrow 90, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of the clamping-saddle and part of its shaft or guide-rod. Fig. 4 is a side view of said saddle and shaft. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the disks connected with the means for adjusting the position of the plate-clamping saddle.

The main or supporting frame of the machine may be of any desired construction and arrangement. I have shown the same as comprising a base A, rigidly on which are the corner standards A, connected together at their upper ends by the side and transverse bars A A". In bearings a a, centrally located on the bars A revolves a horizontal shaft B, on the projecting ends of which immediately contiguous to said bars A are mounted the relatively reversed bevelingcutters B B each of which is equipped at its inner side with a circular saw 6 b Keyed on the shaft B is a small pulley c, which is driven by being geared by a belt O, with a larger pulley c on the shaft O, turning in suitable bearings on the base and having a driving-pulley c belted with the source of power,

Stepped in bearings on the base A and also revolubly supported by bearings in the side bars A of the frame, at intermediate points thereof, are vertical shafts D, the upper eX- tremities of which project for a short distance above said side bars and have secured thereon horizontal beveled pinions d in mesh with beveled pinions d, keyed on a transverse shaft D, mounted in suitable brackets D secured on said side bars. It will be observed by reference to Figsv 1 and 2 that the gears d are correspondingly disposed with reference to their companions so that upon revolving the shaft D by means of a handcrank (1 both shafts D D will be revolved in the same direction and at the same rate of speed. The upper portions of the shafts D are threaded, as indicated at (Z and surrounding the same and in threaded engagement therewith are bearings E, formed integral with the side bars G G which form part of a vertically-movable carriage. This carriage further embodies transverse bars Gr G said bars having end extensions g, in which are slidably mounted guide-rods F, which, in effect, establish connection between the said bars at each end. A shaft G, supported at 1ts rounded ends g in bearings Z, secured, respectively, at one end of each of said rods F, is square in cross-section. On this said shaft G is mounted a carrier H, consisting of two relatively reversed angular sections h h, having oppositely-located ears kg in mutual contact and perforated for the reception of screws or bolts its, by which said sections are slidably confined on the bar. A saddle H has a lower recessed portion adapted to be fitted upon the upper section h and rigidly secured in position through the medium of a bolt If. This saddle has an upper rest 7L5, which is curved in one direction and of such ample capacity as to adapt it for having placed thereon a curved eleetrotype-plate H which is rigidly secured upon such bed by means of suitable clamps H. A somewhat similar guide H and saddle H are provided for the opposite side of the apparatus, the guide, however, in this instance being mounted on a longitudinally-disposed stub-shaft H, which is square in cross-section, but has a cylindrical portion bearing in an opening in the bar G, so that said shaft may be turned relative to said bar. Secured to the shaft H is a toothed pinion or gear-segment 7L7, meshing With a worm 7L8, revolving with a shaft H turning in hangers h, carried by the bar G one of the ends of said shaft being projecting and having a small hand-crank h, by which,

said shaft can be conveniently rotated.

The shaft G is revolubly supported at its ends, so that same may be turned to vary the angle of the position of the guide and saddle thereon. Secured to one of the end bearings of said shaft is a disk I, through which the cylindrical end of the shaft extends, and carries on its projecting portion a eoincidently located disk I, having an are-shaped slot "L, adapted to register with a threaded perforation in the disk I. A shouldered and handled clamping-bolt I is adapted to have its threaded portion inserted through the slot and engage the threaded perforation in the disk I, so that the said disks may be firmly clamped together. Obviously by loosening the bolt I the disk I may be turned to correspondingly affect the shaft G and the latter retained in such adjusted position by the tightening of the bolt 1 as explained.

Mounted in bearings at the ends of the extensions 9 of the bars G are longitudinal feed-shafts J, having intermediately-threaded portions j, engaging the threaded heads k of arms K, rigidlysecurcd to and projecting from the rods F.

It may be well to here state that, as will be readily recalled by those familiar with this art, the curved eloctrotype-plates are fitted upon the cylinders of the press by beveled transverse edges of the plates being engaged beneath dovetailed ribs or connections transversely on said cylinders. This requires that the plates shall have such transverse edges appropriately beveled, as well as trimmed, and it is also desirable that their side edges should be correspondingly conditioned. In the latter case the beveling and trimming are to prepare said side edges to fit beneath dovetailed ribs circumferentially on the cylinder. It will therefore be appreciated that suchbeveling and trimming operations should be conducted with accuracy and that economy and despatch require that said operations should also be quickly and conveniently effected. My machine has the considerations stated in view.

It will be readily comprehended from the foregoing that by clamping one of the plates upon the saddle H the shaft G may be turned and held in its bearings so that when the inner straight edge of the plate is presented to the cutter it will receive the appropriate bevel. The adjusted plate is moved horizontally and brought in line with the cuttingpath of said cutter by operating the handeranks j on the ends of the feed-shafts J, so that the bar G, through the several connections, will be moved inward or outward relative to the cutter, according to the direction in which the shafts J are revolved. To effect the proper vertical adjustment of the plates, rotary movement in either required direction is given the shaft D through the medium of the hand-crank (1 With the carrier H, its saddle,plate thereon, and the bar G conditioned as described, the carrier, together with the saddle and plate, may be shifted along said bar, so that the cutter will bevel the contiguous side edge of the plate and the saw I) trim the same. At the termination of this operation the saddle H and plate may be quickly removed from the guide and adjusted in a reverse position, with the opposite side edge of the plate in position for contact with the cutter, whereupon the remaining straight edge of the plate can be similarly beveled and trimmed. For the purpose of beveling and trimming the curved ends of said plate the latter is now transferred to the saddle H at the opposite side of the machine and secured in position the same as in the case of the other saddle, excepting that the clamps are placed over the side edges instead of at the curved ends. It will be necessary in beveling and trimming the curved ends to turn the plate so that each part of the edge to be acted upon by the cutter B comes in direct contact. This is effected by turning the shaft H, which through the medium of the worm-gear transversely tilts the saddle in one direction or the other, as may be desired. Manifestly by removing and readjusting the plate in reversed relation the opposite curved edge can be similarly beveled and trimmed.

It will be appreciated that the improved machine is not only comparatively simple, but it is susceptible of accurately and expeditiously beveling and trimming the plates at all four edges thereof and that the degree or pitch of bevel may be readily varied according to requirement.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, but reserve the right to all modifications that may be fairly within the scope of my invention.

Having now described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a revoluble bevel-cutter, of a shaft in juxtaposition thereto and revolubly supported in suitable bearings, means for adjustably holding said shaft against turning in said bearing, a carrier supported by the shaft and having a saddle, together with clamping devices for securing a plate on said saddle, the carrier being longitudinally movable relative to said shaft.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a supporting-frame, a shaft revolubly mounted in said frame, and a head comprising a bevel-cutter and a circular saw mounted thereon, of another shaft in juxtaposition thereto, revolubly supported in bearings on said frame, means for adjustably holding said last-named shaft from turning in its bearings, a carrier longitudinally movable on said last-named shaft, a saddle mounted on said carrier, and a clamp holding a plate on said saddle.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a supporting-frame, a shaft revolubly mounted in said frame and a cutter-head mounted thereon, of another shaft in juxtaposition thereto, revolubly supported in bearings in said frame, means comprising a slotted disk, a disk having a screw-threaded opening, and a set-screw engaging said slot and opening, and adjustably holding said last shaft from turning in its bearings, a carrier longitudinally movable on said last-named shaft, a saddle mounted on said carrier and a clamp detachably holding a plate on said saddle.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a supporting-frame, a shaft revolubly mounted in said frame, and a cutter-head on said shaft, of another shaft in juxtaposition thereto revolubly supported in bearings on said frame, means for adjustably holding said last-named shaft from turning in its bearings, a carrier comprising two pieces, embracing said last-named shaft, and longitudinally movable thereon, a saddle comprising an upper curved portion, a lower slotted portion, and a set-screw detachably mounted on said carrier, and a clamp detachably holding a plate on said saddle.

5. In a machine of the character described the combination with a revoluble shaft and supporting-frame therefor, cutter-head on said shaft, said head embodying a bevelcutter and circular saw, of a rotatable shaft in juxtaposition thereto, means for rotating and adjustably holding said last-named shaft, comprising a crank, a worm and wormwheel, and a carrier and saddle longitudinally slidable on said last-named shaft, and clamps for detachably holding an electrotype on said saddle.

6. In a machine of the character described the combination with a revoluble bevelcutter, of a vertically-adjustable and rotatable shaft in juxtaposition thereto, and means for adjusting said shaft and for adjustably holding it in its bearings, a carrier supported by the said shaft and having a saddle, together with clamping devices for securing a plate on said saddle, the carrier being longitudinally movable on the shaft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 21st day of December, 1903.

FRANK WOODWARD CANN.

Witnesses:

B. PATTERSON, THE. SHIPLEY. 

